Lopez/Nadal outplay Isner/Querrey to claim title – BNP Paribas Open 2012
Spaniard contenders, Marc Lopez and Rafael Nadal, won their second title in Indian Wells, toppling John Isner and Sam Querrey of USA in straight sets 6-2, 7-6 in the final at the BNP Paribas Open Sunday.
Lopez and Nadal did not face much resistance in the first set, as they broke Isner and Querrey twice and allowed the American team to claim just two games, bagging it 6-2.
The Spanish duo neither hit any ace nor any double fault. Still, they were strong on their serve, putting in 75 percent of the first deliveries and converting 12 of the 15 of them into points. The Spaniards did not give their opponents
any break opportunity and utilised two of the three of their own in the opener.
Both teams broke each other once in the second set and equalised the score at 6-6 to force a tie-breaker. Lopez and Nadal dominated it from the start and closed it out at 7-6(3).
The Spanish combination was outstanding on their second serves and returns, winning seven of the eight and nine of the 13 points on them respectively. Lopez and Nadal also had a better first serve percentage than Isner and Querrey,
keeping it at 78 compared to just 64 by the Americans.
“It’s been a very good tournament for me. I enjoy a lot being here and Indian Wells is one of my favorite tournaments of the year. I feel very comfortable here. Finishing the two weeks with the victory is the best way to finish,
even if its doubles, not singles. I’m playing well and I’m happy about most of the things that happened these past two weeks.”
Last year’s runner-up in the singles event, Nadal, was beaten by his arch rival, Roger Federer, in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 in the semi-final on Saturday.
Lopez and Nadal were also the winners here in 2009. They lost to Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka in the semi-final last year.
Nadal added, “We are very close friends so it makes things more easy. Our styles of game are closer in doubles than with different partners because we feel comfortable from the baseline, we feel comfortable having some tactics
from the net.”
The Spanish duo has now won four titles as a team. They have a perfect record in the title matches. The left and right hand combination had also grabbed Qatar ExxonMobil Open in 2009 and 11.
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